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Choosing a Media Server

Choosing to run a a home media server can be a fun and educational hobby while also providing a central source to store, control and play all your media.

When selecting which media server software to invest your time (and sometimes $$) you should do so by asking yourself the following questions.

  • How do you want to access your media?
    • Do you want to access your media only at home or also away from home?
    • Do you want to share your media with others?
  • Do you want to integrate your media server into a Home Theater?
    • Do you want to automate any processes of your media server? For example, automatically controlling lighting when a movie starts, stops or is paused.
    • What visual or audio requirements will you have for content played to your Home Theater screen from your media server?
    • Do you want a Cinema-like experience with trailers and/or bumpers before a movie starts?
  • How comfortable are you with Computing?
    • Do you like to be "hands on" or do you "just want it to work"?
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